UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 24 February 2026

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 24 February 2026 covers important current affairs of the day, their backward linkages, their relevance for Prelims exam and MCQs on main articles

InstaLinks : Insta Links help you think beyond the current affairs issue and help you think multidimensionally to develop depth in your understanding of these issues. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background.

Table of Contents

GS Paper 1 & 2:

• The Quiet Crisis of Adolescent Mental Health

The Quiet Crisis of Adolescent Mental Health

GS Paper 2:

• Independence of the Election Commission

Independence of the Election Commission

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):

• Punch Monkey Story

Punch Monkey Story

Facts for Prelims (FFP):

• Prahaar Anti Terror Policy

Prahaar Anti Terror Policy

• National Monetisation Pipeline 2.0 (NMP 2.0)

National Monetisation Pipeline 2.0 (NMP 2.0)

• 2025 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation

2025 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation

• INS Anjadip

INS Anjadip

• The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), 1977

The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), 1977

• 20th anniversary of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006

20th anniversary of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006

Mapping:

• Mexico

Mexico

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 24 February 2026

GS Paper 1 & 2 :

The Quiet Crisis of Adolescent Mental Health

Source: TH

Subject: Population Issues/Health

Context: Recent incidents involving adolescent deaths in Ghaziabad have reignited national concern over the growing mental health crisis among children and adolescents in India.

About The Quiet Crisis of Adolescent Mental Health:

What it is?

• The quiet crisis refers to the pervasive but often invisible mental health struggles—such as anxiety, depression, and digital addiction—that begin as early as childhood (age 4–5) but are frequently dismissed by families and schools as mere behavioral phases or adult issues.

Key Data/Facts on Mental Health:

• Prevalence: An estimated 7% to 10% of Indian adolescents have diagnosable mental health conditions, according to the National Mental Health Survey.

• ADHD Burden: Approximately 5% to 7% of school-aged children in India show symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

• Digital Shift: Over 800 million Indians now use low-priced internet, with many children spending 6–7 hours daily on screens.

• Treatment Gap: India faces a massive deficit with fewer than 10,000 psychiatrists for a population of 1.4 billion, leaving families to navigate fragmented care.

Reasons for the Quiet Crisis:

• Unregulated Digital Environments: Excessive screen time is linked to brain rot, sleep disruption, and emotional dysregulation.

E.g. The Economic Survey 2025-26 flagged digital addiction as a major public health threat to India’s long-term economic productivity.

• Academic Pressure over Wellbeing: Schools prioritize competitive rankings and examinations over emotional regulation and stress management.

E.g. The ASER 2024 report found that while 76% of teens use phones for social media, academic anxiety remains a top cause for distress.

• The Displacement Effect: Screen use replaces essential sensory play and human interaction required for healthy brain development.

E.g. Psychologists in 2026 warned that excessive gaming is being used as a digital babysitter, delaying cognitive processing in toddlers.

• Social Media Comparison: Platforms foster Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) and body image dissatisfaction among young girls.

E.g. A 2025 study showed that 65% of Indian adolescent girls reported distress linked to online social comparisons.

• Lack of Early Recognition: Emotional disorders often surface early (age 4–5), but stigma prevents families from seeking help until a crisis occurs.

E.g. The February 2026 Ghaziabad tragedy involved children who had dropped out of school years earlier but received no mental health screening.

Initiatives Taken:

• Tele-MANAS: A 24/7 national tele-mental health helpline (14416) providing crisis counseling and digital addiction support.

• Online Gaming (Regulation) Act, 2025: Aimed at curbing financial ruin and addiction associated with real-money gaming apps.

• Ayushman Bharat Health & Wellness Centres: Integration of mental health screening into primary healthcare at the school level.

• Social Media Curbs: The Union Government is currently consulting on Australia-style age-based restrictions for social media users under 16.

Challenges Associated with it:

• Severe Manpower Shortage: A lack of specialized child psychiatrists and psychiatric social workers makes professional care inaccessible for most.

E.g. Experts at ANCIPS 2026 warned that India faces an 85% mental health treatment gap due to workforce shortages.

• Technological Workarounds: Children often use VPNs or fake accounts to bypass existing age-gating and parental controls.

E.g. IT Ministry officials noted in Feb 2026 that tech-savvy minors easily circumvent current Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) rules.

• Pervasive Stigma: Mental health struggles are often viewed as personal weaknesses or bad behavior rather than medical conditions.

E.g. In many urban peri-urban areas, families still hide symptoms of self-harm to avoid social marginalization.

• Institutional Resistance: Tech giants often resist regulations that might impact their largest global user base (India).

E.g. Meta and Google have flagged concerns over Aadhaar-linked logins proposed for age verification in early 2026.

• Fragmented Referral Pathways: Even when a teacher identifies a problem, there is often no clear path to connect the student to a specialist.

E.g. Reports in 2025 highlighted that Manodarpan and other school schemes lack follow-up mechanisms for high-risk cases.

Way Ahead:

• Digital Wellness Curricula: Schools must move beyond IT literacy to include lessons on screen-time management and cyber-safety.

• Mandatory Physical Activity: Reversing sedentary digital habits by enforcing daily physical play to build neuroplasticity.

• Parental Support Groups: Creating community-based spaces where parents can learn trauma-informed parenting and share coping strategies.

• Routine School Screening: Implementing universal mental health check-ups alongside physical growth monitoring by pediatricians.

• Age-Based Access Policies: Implementing thoughtful, age-appropriate limits on social media while providing digital lifelines for marginalized youth.

Conclusion:

Adolescent mental health is the foundational pillar upon which India’s demographic dividend depends. The shift from crisis response to pre-emptive care requires a collective effort from parents, schools, and digital platforms. Only by breaking the silence of this quiet crisis can we ensure that childhood remains a period of resilience and connection rather than isolation.

Q. Discuss the importance of preventive and promotive approaches in mental health policy. Examine how they address inequities in access to mental healthcare in India. (10 M)

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 24 February 2026 GS Paper 2:

Independence of the Election Commission

Source: TH

Subject: Constitutional Bodies

Context: The independence of the Election Commission of India (ECI) has come under debate following controversies related to voter roll revisions and opposition moves seeking removal of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).

About Independence of the Election Commission:

What is Independence of the EC?

• Independence of the Election Commission means its ability to conduct elections free from executive, political, or external influence, ensuring impartial supervision, direction, and control of elections in India.

Constitutional Framework

The Constitution provides several safeguards to ensure the EC operates without executive pressure:

• Article 324: Vests the superintendence, direction, and control of elections in the Election Commission.

• Security of Tenure: Under Article 324(5), the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) can only be removed like a Supreme Court judge—on grounds of proved misbehaviour or incapacity.

• Service Conditions: The conditions of service of the CEC cannot be varied to their disadvantage after appointment.

• Multi-Member Body: Since 1993, the EC has been a three-member body to ensure collective decision-making and prevent individual bias.

Need for Independence of the EC:

• Ensuring Level Playing Field: To prevent the ruling party from using state machinery for electoral gains.

E.g. In the 2024 General Elections, the EC faced pressure to strictly enforce the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) against high-profile political speeches.

• Maintaining Public Trust: Public confidence in the sanctity of the ballot is vital for democratic stability.

E.g. The 2025 vote theft allegations by the Opposition required the EC to issue detailed fact-checks to prevent mass unrest.

• Accuracy of Electoral Rolls: Independent oversight prevents targeted disenfranchisement of specific communities.

E.g. The 2025 Bihar SIR controversy, where critics alleged that minority and migrant voters were disproportionately targeted for deletion.

• Countering Executive Overreach: An independent EC can resist government attempts to delay or prepone elections for political advantage.

E.g. Debates surrounding One Nation, One Election in 2025 required an independent ECI to provide a neutral feasibility report.

• Effective Adjudication: The EC acts as a quasi-judicial body during disputes over symbols and party splits.

E.g. The EC’s decision on the real Shiv Sena and NCP during 2023-24 highlighted the need for non-partisan adjudication.

Landmark SC Judgments on EC Independence:

• Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain (1975): Declared that free and fair elections are part of the Basic Structure of the Constitution.

• T.N. Seshan v. Union of India (1995): Upheld the multi-member status of the EC and equated the status of Election Commissioners with the CEC.

• Mohinder Singh Gill v. CEC (1978): Ruled that Article 324 is a plenary power that allows the EC to act even where the law is silent.

• Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India (2023): Held that the CJI should be part of the selection committee to ensure neutrality.

• Jaya Thakur v. Union of India (2024-2026): Currently examining whether the exclusion of the CJI from the appointment process violates the separation of powers.

Challenges Associated with EC Independence:

• Appointment Process: The current 2:1 ratio (PM, Minister vs. LoP) allows the executive to dominate appointments.

E.g. The rapid appointment of two ECs in March 2024, just before the SC could hear the stay application, drew heavy criticism.

• Lack of Financial Autonomy: The EC’s expenses are voted upon in Parliament rather than being charged on the Consolidated Fund of India.

E.g. In 2025, the EC required emergency funding for the Bihar SIR, which remained subject to Ministry of Finance approval.

• Vulnerability of Election Commissioners: Unlike the CEC, other ECs do not have the same constitutional protection against removal.

E.g. This creates a hierarchy of fear, where ECs might align with the government to ensure their eventual promotion to CEC.

• Electoral Roll Discrepancies: Tech-driven purification of rolls can lead to large-scale accidental deletions.

E.g. In 2025, the use of automated de-duplication software in Haryana led to the deletion of 25 lakh voters, including legitimate residents.

• Information Transparency: The EC has recently restricted access to polling data and CCTV footage.

E.g. A June 2025 directive ordered the destruction of polling booth CCTV footage within 45 days, sparking transparency concerns.

Way Ahead:

• Restoring Judicial Oversight: Re-including the CJI in the selection committee to ensure a non-partisan appointment process.

• Equal Protection for all Commissioners: Amending Article 324(5) to provide the same removal safeguards to ECs as the CEC.

• Independent Secretariat: Establishing a dedicated staff for the EC to end its dependence on government-deputed officials.

• Financial Independence: Budgetary allocations should be charged on the Consolidated Fund to prevent purse-string control by the Ministry.

• Standardized Deletion Protocols: Codifying Model Electoral Roll Rules to ensure no voter is deleted without a physical hearing.

Conclusion:

The independence of the Election Commission is not merely a legal requirement but a democratic necessity to prevent the theft of the mandate. While the constitutional framework provides a strong foundation, the recent shift toward executive-dominant appointments and procedural irregularities in voter rolls demands urgent judicial and legislative correction.

Q. Judicial pronouncements have played a crucial role in shaping the autonomy of the Election Commission of India. Examine whether the legislature’s response to these rulings strengthens or weakens institutional independence. (15 M)

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 24 February 2026 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Punch Monkey Story

Anecdote: At Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan, a baby Japanese macaque named Punch was rejected by his mother soon after birth, leaving him without the warmth and guidance essential for survival. Zoo keepers observed that newborn macaques usually cling to their mothers to build strength and emotional security, but Punch had no such support. To reduce stress and help his development, caretakers provided a stuffed orangutan toy that he could hold onto. The toy became a symbolic substitute for maternal care, helping him slowly regain confidence. Initially isolated, Punch struggled to understand the complex social hierarchy of his troop. Over time, through gradual exposure and resilience, he began learning social signals and interacting with other monkeys. Experts explained that maternal rejection can occur due to factors like first-time motherhood or environmental stress such as heatwaves. Punch’s journey reflects adaptation, emotional resilience, and the importance of social support in early development. His story reminds us that survival is not just biological but also social and psychological.

Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus

• GS Paper IV – Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude

• Empathy and Compassion: Human intervention to support vulnerable beings. Ethics of Care: Role of institutions in welfare and rehabilitation. Emotional intelligence: Understanding behaviour through empathy rather than judgement.

• Empathy and Compassion: Human intervention to support vulnerable beings.

• Ethics of Care: Role of institutions in welfare and rehabilitation.

• Emotional intelligence: Understanding behaviour through empathy rather than judgement.

• Essay Paper / Ethics Case Studies Themes like resilience, social support, adaptation, and humane governance. Can be used as an anecdotal opening in essays on compassion, socialisation, or behavioural psychology.

• Themes like resilience, social support, adaptation, and humane governance.

• Can be used as an anecdotal opening in essays on compassion, socialisation, or behavioural psychology.

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS –24 February 2026 Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Prahaar Anti Terror Policy

Source: DD News

Subject: Security

Context: India has unveiled its first-ever comprehensive anti-terror policy, titled ‘Prahaar’, formalising a proactive and intelligence-led counter-terror doctrine.

About Prahaar Anti Terror Policy:

What it is?

• Prahaar is India’s first integrated national counter-terrorism policy and strategy, designed as a doctrine-level framework for preventing, responding to and recovering from terrorism threats.

• It adopts a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, combining intelligence, law enforcement, technology and international cooperation.

Launched by:

• Introduced by the Government of India as a national counter-terror strategy framework involving central and state security agencies.

• To prevent and neutralize terrorism through proactive, intelligence-guided operations and coordinated institutional mechanisms.

• To disrupt terror ecosystems by targeting financing, recruitment, radicalisation, logistics and cyber networks.

Key Features:

• Seven-Pillar Framework (PRAHAAR): Prevention, Response, Aggregation of capacities, Human-rights-based processes, Attenuation of radicalisation, Aligning international cooperation, and Recovery.

• Proactive Intelligence Model: Focus on pre-emptive disruption of terror networks instead of reactive policing.

• Technology-Centric Security: Addresses threats from drones, encrypted messaging apps, dark web and crypto financing.

• Uniform Counter-Terror Structure: Standard procedures and coordinated mechanisms across central, state and district levels.

• Counter-Radicalisation Strategy: Graded police response combined with education, engagement and de-radicalisation programmes.

• Global Collaboration: Emphasis on extradition, intelligence sharing and alignment with UN anti-terror norms.

• Human Rights Safeguards: Ensures legal due process, redressal mechanisms and rule-of-law based action.

Significance:

• Marks a doctrinal shift from fragmented responses to a structured national counter-terror policy.

• Enhances India’s preparedness against emerging hybrid threats combining terrorism, cyber warfare and organised crime.

National Monetisation Pipeline 2.0 (NMP 2.0)

Source: PIB

Subject: Economy

Context: Union Finance Minister has launched the National Monetisation Pipeline 2.0 (NMP 2.0) to accelerate infrastructure financing through asset monetisation.

About National Monetisation Pipeline 2.0 (NMP 2.0):

What it is?

• NMP 2.0 is the second phase of India’s national asset monetisation programme that provides a medium-term roadmap for monetising operational public infrastructure assets.

• It focuses on unlocking value from existing brownfield assets to generate resources for new infrastructure creation and capital expenditure.

Ministry / Implementing Agency:

• Developed by NITI Aayog in consultation with infrastructure line ministries.

• Implemented under the guidance of the Ministry of Finance and monitored by the Core Group of Secretaries on Asset Monetisation (CGAM).

• To recycle public assets and mobilise funds for fresh infrastructure development without increasing fiscal burden.

• To provide visibility and investment opportunities for private sector participation in infrastructure.

Key Features:

• Total Monetisation Potential: ₹16.72 lakh crore for FY 2026–2030, including ₹5.8 lakh crore private investment.

• Guidance Framework: Structured as a methodology and roadmap document for ministries and investors.

• Multiple Monetisation Models: PPP concessions, InvITs, securitisation of cash flows, strategic auctions, and partial divestments.

• Revenue Allocation Mechanism: Proceeds flow to Consolidated Fund of India, PSUs, State Consolidated Funds, or direct private investments.

• Sector-Wide Coverage: Includes highways, railways, power, ports, coal, mining, telecom, aviation, tourism and urban infrastructure.

• Process Standardisation: Emphasis on simplification and time-bound execution based on lessons from NMP 1.0.

• Monitoring Mechanism: Continuous oversight by empowered inter-ministerial group led by Cabinet Secretary.

Top 5 Sectoral Shares (FY 2026–30):

• Highways, MMLPs & Ropeways – 26% (₹4.42 lakh crore)

• Power Sector – 17% (₹2.76 lakh crore)

• Railways – 16% (₹2.62 lakh crore)

• Ports – 16% (₹2.63 lakh crore)

• Coal – 13% (₹2.16 lakh crore)

Significance:

• Promotes asset recycling, enabling reinvestment into new infrastructure projects.

• Reduces dependence on direct budgetary expenditure for CAPEX.

• Strengthens PPP ecosystem and attracts long-term private investment.

2025 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation

Source: DH

Subject: Miscellaneous

Context: The Our Lady of Grace Cathedral, Vasai (Maharashtra) has won the Award of Merit at the 2025 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.

About 2025 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation:

What it is?

• A prestigious UNESCO initiative that recognises outstanding heritage conservation projects across the Asia-Pacific region.

• It honours restoration efforts that combine technical excellence with cultural authenticity and community participation.

Established in:

• 2000, by UNESCO to promote best practices in cultural heritage preservation across Asia and the Pacific.

• To encourage high-quality conservation of historic sites while maintaining cultural integrity and sustainability.

• To promote community participation and adaptive reuse of heritage structures for long-term preservation.

Key Features:

• Recognises projects based on understanding of place, technical achievement, sustainability, and impact.

• Open to private sector and public-private partnership conservation initiatives.

• Covers heritage types such as historic buildings, towns, archaeological sites, cultural landscapes and vernacular architecture.

• Projects must generally be completed within the last ten years to qualify.

• Has honoured 300+ projects across 27 countries, shaping regional conservation standards.

About Vasai Cathedral (Our Lady of Grace Cathedral):

What it is?

• A 16th-century Catholic cathedral located in Papdy village, Vasai (Maharashtra), representing early Portuguese colonial architecture in India.

History:

• Built around 475 years ago during Portuguese rule on India’s western coast.

• Constructed using stone and mud mortar, without modern cement.

• Recently restored (2023–24) through a community-funded conservation initiative costing about ₹4.5 crore.

Key Features:

• Reflects Portuguese ecclesiastical architecture with stone masonry and traditional craftsmanship.

• Interior restored using hand-carved liturgical elements and authentic materials.

• Includes restored roof, façade, corridors, colonnade and bell tower.

• Serves as a living place of worship, preserving both tangible and intangible heritage.

INS Anjadip

Source: PIB

Subject: Security

Context: The Indian Navy is set to commission Anjadip, the third vessel of the eight-ship Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) project, into the Eastern Naval Command.

About INS Anjadip:

What it is?

• INS Anjadip is a state-of-the-art Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC). It is a reincarnation of the erstwhile Petya-class Corvette of the same name that was decommissioned in 2003.

Built By: The vessel was indigenously designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.

• The construction was executed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model between GRSE and L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli.

Other Ships in the Project:

• Anjadip is the third of eight planned ASW-SWC vessels. Other notable ships already launched or delivered in this class include INS Mahe and INS Malvan.

Aim: The primary aim of the vessel is to address challenges in the littoral combat environment (coastal and shallow waters). It is specifically engineered to act as a ‘Dolphin Hunter’, tasked with the detection, tracking, and neutralization of enemy submarines in coastal approaches.

Key Features:

• Dimensions: Approximately 77 meters in length.

• Propulsion: High-speed Water-Jet Propulsion system, making it the largest class of Indian naval warships to use this technology.

• Speed: Capable of reaching a top speed of 25 knots.

• Weapons Package: Armed with Lightweight Torpedoes, indigenously designed Anti-Submarine Rockets, and mine-laying capabilities.

• Sensors: Equipped with the Hull Mounted Sonar ‘Abhay’ for shallow water detection.

• Multirole Capabilities: Beyond ASW, it can perform Coastal Surveillance, Low-Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO), and Search & Rescue (SAR).

The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), 1977

Source: IE

Subject: International Relations

Context: The US Supreme Court recently struck down tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), 1977.

About The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), 1977:

What it is?

• The IEEPA is a US federal law that grants the President authority to regulate international commerce during a declared national emergency arising from external threats.

• It allows economic measures such as sanctions and restrictions on transactions to protect US national interests.

Established in:

• Enacted in 1977 by the US Congress.

• It replaced and limited the earlier broad powers under the Trading with the Enemy Act (TWEA), 1917.

• To enable the US President to respond swiftly to extraordinary external threats affecting national security, foreign policy, or the economy.

• Primarily designed as a sanctions framework rather than a trade tariff instrument.

Key Features:

• President can block assets, restrict financial transactions, and regulate imports/exports after declaring a national emergency.

• Requires formal emergency declaration under the National Emergencies Act and periodic reporting to Congress.

• Broad executive discretion but subject to judicial review and constitutional limits.

• Traditionally used for sanctions against hostile states, terrorism financing, or geopolitical crises.

• Does not explicitly grant blanket authority for long-term tariff imposition without Congressional backing.

Significance:

• Serves as a key legal tool for US economic statecraft and sanctions diplomacy.

• Reflects the balance between executive flexibility and Congressional oversight in trade policy.

20th anniversary of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006

Source: AN

Subject: International Organisation

Context: The ILO and IMO marked the 20th anniversary of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006, highlighting its role in improving seafarers’ welfare and global shipping standards.

About 20th anniversary of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006:

What it is?

• Often referred to as the Seafarers’ Bill of Rights, the MLC, 2006 is a comprehensive international treaty that establishes minimum requirements for almost every aspect of working and living conditions for seafarers.

Established In:

• The Convention was adopted on 23 February 2006 by the International Labour Conference in Geneva.

• To create a single, coherent instrument embodying as many up-to-date standards of existing maritime labour Conventions as possible.

• To ensure that all seafarers, regardless of their nationality or the flag of the ship, have access to decent working and living conditions.

• To level the playing field for responsible shipowners by preventing unfair competition from substandard ships

Key Features of the Convention:

• Minimum Requirements for Seafarers: Sets clear standards for minimum age, medical certification, and necessary training/qualifications for working on a ship.

• Conditions of Employment: Regulates seafarers’ employment agreements, wages, hours of work and rest, and entitlement to leave and repatriation.

• Accommodation and Recreational Facilities: Mandates specific standards for on-board living conditions, including ventilation, heating, and lighting.

• Health Protection and Medical Care: Ensures seafarers have access to prompt and adequate medical care while on board and in port.

• Social Security Protection: Requires members to provide seafarers with social security protection matching that of land-based workers, covering areas like sickness and unemployment benefits.

• Compliance and Enforcement: Features a robust system of Flag State and Port State inspections to ensure ships meet the convention’s requirements.

Significance

• Improved Seafarers’ Welfare: Enhanced wages, working hours, safety, and living standards globally.

• Fair Competition: Prevents unfair advantage gained through poor labour conditions.

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 24 February 2026 Mapping:

#### Mexico

Source: IT

Subject: Mapping

Context: Mexico deployed around 10,000 troops after the death of drug cartel leader Nemesio El Mencho Oseguera, which triggered large-scale violence across multiple states.

About Mexico:

What it is?

• Mexico, officially called the United Mexican States (Estados Unidos Mexicanos), is a federal republic located in southern North America.

• It is one of the largest economies in Latin America and has a diverse cultural, historical, and ecological landscape.

Capital: Mexico City

Bordering Nations:

• United States to the north.

• Guatemala and Belize to the southeast.

• Bounded by the Pacific Ocean (west & south) and the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea (east).

Key Geological Features:

• Part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it highly prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity.

• Major mountain systems include Sierra Madre Occidental, Sierra Madre Oriental, and the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (Cordillera Neo-Volcánica).

• Home to active and high volcanoes such as Popocatépetl and Citlaltépetl (Pico de Orizaba).

• Diverse physiographic regions including the Mexican Plateau, Yucatán Peninsula, Baja California Peninsula, and coastal plains.

• Major rivers include Río Bravo (Rio Grande), Grijalva, and Balsas.

Significance:

• One of Latin America’s largest economies with strong industrial, agricultural, and service sectors.

• Strategic geopolitical position linking North and Latin America.

• Rich biodiversity and major tourist destinations such as Cancún, Yucatán, and Pacific coastal resorts.

Facts for Prelims – 24 Feb Current Affairs Video

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